It is pitch black around me. The voice of the boatman – also our guide – informs our enthusiastic group that we are about to see another formation on the ceiling of the cave – this one is in the shape of a heart. We are inside Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park, which is America's only all-water cavern located in Happy Valley. Our 50-minute guided tour in a flat-bottom motorboat takes us through the limestone cavern featuring unique stalactites and stalagmites. One of them resembles The Statue of Liberty. The boatman continues to manoeuvre the boat, pointing the light towards the flowstone and cascades of pillars and columns that were formed 30 million years ago.
There is also the Farm-Nature-Wildlife Tour, where visitors can see native North American animals like wild horses, red foxes, grey wolves, and mountain lions. Happy Valley, located in Centre County, Pennsylvania, got its name during the Great Depression, as it was financially resilient in comparison to other regions. Another day, on a bright sunny morning, I enjoy the beauty of the outdoors at Mount Nittany. It is part of the Appalachian mountain range and has several hiking trails ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
Before I begin hiking the trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook, I chat with an elderly gentleman tending to his garden at the base of Mount Nittany. “This is a very special place. Its positivity resonates with those who climb it,” he tells me while his dog wags his tail as if in approval. I also pin my Indian city on a globe that he has placed at the entrance of his home. It’s his way of welcoming visitors. His friendly gesture is not a solitary one; everywhere I go in Happy Valley, I am warmly welcomed by smiling people who make visitors feel comfortable.
Halfway through the 1.13-km hike, a group of students from Penn State University overtakes me. We meet at the Mike Lynch Overlook, which is dedicated to Michael Lynch, a torchbearer credited with preserving the iconic status of this mountain. The students are accompanied by their professor, an Indian who settled in the area. After they leave, sitting on a wooden log, I continue to soak in the serenity of the forest.
Later, I visit Penn State University campus, which is open to the public. I spend my time exploring the Nittany Lion Shrine, the Hintz Family Alumni Center, and the Library before relishing an ice cream at Penn State Berkey Creamery. During my time in Happy Valley, I also participate in a guided tour of the Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum located in the village of Boalsburg. The Boal Mansion Museum unravels slices of history and interesting contributions of generations of the Boal family.
I learn that David Boal, who established the mansion, founded Boalsburg while his son, George, was one of the founders of a Farmers High School, which today is the prestigious Penn State University. Room after room display furnishings, portraits, and memorabilia of the Boal family, who have ties to Christopher Columbus. I see weapons dating to the Middle Ages, scale models of ships, a mother-of-pearl inlay box that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte, and crockery that served lavish meals.
The Boal estate is also home to the Columbus Chapel, which contains a remarkable Columbus collection. There are European oil paintings spanning centuries, statues dating back to the 15th century, and robes worn by the clergy.
